Overhead support for baskets used in game of basketball



Oct. 14, 1930. E l A. L.. STEELE 1&778173 I OVERHEAD SUPPORT FOR vBASKET USED IN GAME QF BASKETBALL original Filed May 4`3,- 1928 '3 sheets-sheet 1 Inventor Alberi Sfeelc Y A. L. STEELE oct, 14, 1930.7

OVERHEAD SUPPOHT FOR BASKET USED IN GAME OF BASKETBALL.

s sheets-sheet 2 Original Filed May 3, 1928 Oct.f14, 19.30. l A. L.. STEELE 1,778,1'73

'OVERHEAD SUPPORT FOR BASKET USED IN GAME OF BASKETBALL Original Filed May 3, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 WFZT. .57ZLa Egg?? l Attorney ,3, 4, 5 and@ as shown at the top of Figure Patented @et 14, 1930 STT- PATENT FFCE VERHEAD SUPPORT FOR BASKETS 'USED IN GAME OFBASKETBALL Application filed May 3, 1928, Serial No. 274,752. Renewed May 31, 193D.

basket that is usedin the game of basketball, which support is adjustable forward and back E and up and down and is collapsible, in that it can be folded up out of the way.

This and other objects of the invention will vbe illustrated in the drawings, described in the specication, and pointed out in the claims at the end thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved support.

Figure is a vertical section on the line 2X, 2X offFigure 1 partly broken away.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3X, 3X of Figure 1.

Figure et is a side elevation of a fixed support for the bank board and basket, to be used in connection with a movable support, at the opposite end of the court therefrom.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a modified form of the support shown in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a front elevation of the support shown in Figure 5, Figure 5 being viewed from the left.

Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the folding brace.

Figure 8 is a'skeleton perspective view of i the' assembly of the carriage and the support.

Tn the drawings like reference numerals indicate like parts. Y

Tn the drawings reference numeral 1 indicates a track supported overhead by any suitable manner, which track is preferably of the shape of an l. beam. Two of these tracks are used. `l*-/loiiiited to travel under these tracks is a carriage 2, which carriage is made preferably of a channel or angle shapedbar, the

ure 2. To this carriage are fastened brackets l. with corresponding brackets 3, etc., on. the

opposite of thecarriage 2 and the track Y 1, asfshown in cross section in Figure 2. Fach of these brackets-carries a roller 7 which engages with the lower Hangers of both of the I beams 1, by which the carriage is supported therefrom and onl which it is adapted to i" travel. The lower flange of the 'l beam is perforated with holes as indicated at 8, 8 etc. spaced suitably apart. The carriage is provided with a spring pressed pin 9 which is adapted to engage one of these holes and lock the carriage adj ustably in place on the I beam. This adjustment of the carriage is provided so that the carriage may be set forward or back. This carriage carries a bank board and a basket. One of these baskets is provided at each end of the basketball court and it is desired to have these baskets spaced apart a distance of 70 to 90 feet, and it is therefore desirable to make one of them adjustable forward and back so as to get the correct distance between the baskets.

At each end of the carriage is provided the T shaped hangers 10 and 11. From the hanger 10 is pivotally suspended the vertical framework 12, on which is carried the bank iron placed end to end. Perforations are pro vided in the short channel 17 and in the ends of the two longer sections, which permit the longer sections to be brought together or spaced apart a suitable distance', so as to place the baskets 11i at the proper elevation above the floor.

A diagonal brace 20 is provided pivoted at the top to the T shaped hanger 11. This brace 2O is a frame and at its lower end is provided with a spindle having rollers 21, 21 thereon which engage with the channels 15 and 16. Theserollers can travel up or down in these channels. On the upright frame 12 are provided latches 21 which engage pins 22 on the diagonal brace 20. i These latches serve to lock the upright frame and the diagonal brace 2O in relation to each other, as shownv in Figure 1. i

To the lower end of the frame 12 a cable 25 is fastened, which cable passes up over a pul- VCO end of the room and the swinging adjust.

able support at the other end of the room, although it will be understood that adjustable supports may be used at both ends of the room.

thevoverliead timbers. From this depends the frame 31, similar to that shown in Figure 3, having an adjusting member-32 therein,

similar to the part 17.- On the lower end isV provided the bank boardy 33-ai`id the basket '34. Back of the frame 31 is provided a bracket which connects the lower part of the frame 31 to the end wall and krigidly. supports it with reference thereto,j

In Figure 5 I have shown a modified form of the support shown vin Figure 1. ln this figure reference numeral 41 indicates. the

track and 42 indicates the carriage on whichv the support is mounted. 43`indicatestlie upright frame having the bank. board 13 and basket 14 on the vbottom'thereof, all-of which are supported from the carriage 42` by the T shaped hanger 10.l At the otherv .end of the carriage is provided the T shapedhanger 11, from which is supported. the jointed frame 44 which.V is connected tothe upright frame 43 at the bracket 45. This jointed frame 44 serves as a diagonalbrace.l A cable 46 is connected to thebracket 45 on the upright. fraine43 and passes up over the pulley 47 and down thereon, soi that the frame V43 can be swung up and tothe right. This cable 46 passes' Vunder 'ia .bracket 49 whichextends down fromrthejointed frame' 445aty thei'middle thereof, so that. when the cable 46 is pulled ythe .jointed frame 44 willy be `swung' up in the middle, breaking Vthe frame at the joint thereof,.so` that the two sections of the frame V44 and the upright frame 43 will all fold together and collapse againstfthe ceiling or against the horizontalV members that support the apparatus.

The bracket '49 is provided with a roller with which the cable makes contact` as' it passes under it and raises it. A

A latch 50 is provided lockingy the up right frame 43 and lthe diagonalv brace 44 with :reference to each other when the parts are in the position shown .in Figure 5. It will also be understoodthat thep'ivot on which the diagonal brace 44 breaks in.

vthe Vmiddle is adjustable to lengthen or shorten the frame, as is shown by they pin holes providedinone of the members, as

ln Figure 4 reference numeral 30 indicates a bracket which is fastened to f 'prisiiig overhead rails, elor indicated at 48. The upright frame 43 can be lengtliened or shortened and for this purpose a coupling channel or angle 51 is provided therein, to which vthe upper and lower sections of each side bar can be connected at different intervals, so as to lengthen or shorten the frame as may be desired. ln

.this way both the upright frame and the diagonal brace are adjustable in length so that they will properly coordinate with each other to hold the basket 14 at the correct elevation, and to hold the upright frame 43and the ybank board 13 inthe 'correct upright position.

l claim: v

l. A bank board and basket rsupport comprising overhead rails, an velongated carriage inovably supported 'from said rails,Y

saidcarriage having a bank board and basket thereon, said rails having perforations tliere- 'iin a pin carried on the carriage adapted to Y vengage the perforations in said rail to lock the carriage adjustably in place thereon.V

2. A bank board and basketsupport come. Y

prising overhead rails, any elongated carriage supported from said rails and adjustable longitudinally thereon, an upright said carriage, an upright bank board can ried on said frame, a ring extending forward from said bank board, a .basket supported by said ring. Y

3. A bank board and basket support comprising` overhead rails, an elongated carriagel supported from Ysaid rails, and adjustable longitudinally thereon, an upright frame'deframe depending from the forward end of..

pending from the forward end of said car# riage, said frame having a bank board and j a. basket thereon, va vbrace extending from Y the lower vend ofthe upright, frame to the rear end of the carriage. Y

4. A bank board and basket support comprising overhead rails, lanelongated car-V riage supported.r from said rails,A and adjustable longitudinally thereon, .an upright frame depending from the forward end kof said carriage, aid frame having. a bank board and a basket thereon, a brace extending from the lower .end of the upright frame to the rear end of the Carriage, both the frame and kthe brace being adjustable lengthwise.

5. bank board and basket support` coniated lcarriage supported from said rails and. adjustable longitudinally thereon, an upright frame depen di g from the forward end of said` carriage, aid rraiiie having a bankboard and abasketthereon, a. brace extending from the t frame tothe rear lower end of the upr fof the carriage, ak latch Vsupported on'the frame and adapted toeiigage the vbrace .to

hold the frame and brace in fixed relation to each other. j

j 6. A bank boardand basket support coni'- prising overhead rails, an elongated ycarriage Lol) supported from said rails and adjustable longitudinally. thereon, an upright frame depending from the forward end of'said carriage, said frame having a bank board and a basket thereon, a brace extending from the lower end of the upright frame to the rear end ofy the carriage, said brace having a traveling engagement with the frame thatv tending from the lower end of the upright frame to the rear endiof the carriage, a shaft onthe lower end of the brace, said shaft inaking traveling engagement with the channel bars ofthe upright frame.

8. A bank board and basket support coniprising overhead rails, an elongated carriage supported from said rails and adjustable longitudinally thereon, an upright frame depending from the forward end of said carriage, said frame having a bank board andy a basket thereon, said upright frame having two channel bars on each side thereof, the two channelr bars on each side being placed Y end to end, a couplingchanne-l connecting the two channel bars by which they are held together or adjustably spaced apart.

9. An adjustable basket and bank board support comprising fixed overhead guide rails, an elongated rolleri suspended frame work adapted to move back and forth on 'said' guide rails, an upright fraine suspended'from Y said roller suspended frame work and means for locking said roller suspended frame work in place onsaid guiderails'.' j

Y l0. Anadjustable basket and bank board support comprising fixed overhead guide rails, an velongated roller suspended frame work adapted to move back and forthon said kguide rails, an upright frame suspended from said roller suspended frame work and means for locking said roller suspended frame work in place on saidl guide rails, and means for holding said frame in a vert-ical position and means for holding it in a horizontal position,

ll. A.. combination. of a bank'boardv and a basket for the game of basketball of an overhead support therefor, adjustable means' connecting the overhead support with the basket and board and adapted to support the boardfirmly in an upright position, at asuitable height above the floor with the basket in place thereon for the purpose ot playing the gaine of basket ball, said supporting means and vbank board vbeing adapted to be folded up outof the road against the overhead supthe game of basket ball` port, said overhead support comprising a track, an elongated carriage suspended therefrom and being adjustable longitudinally along the track, said board being hung from one end of the carriage and being braced against horizontal movement from the other end of the carriage. j

12. A combinationof a bank board and a basket for the gaine of basket ball of an overhead support therefor, adjustable means connecting the overhead support with the basket and board and adapted to support the board .firmly in an upright position, at a suitable height above the floor with the basket in place thereon for the purpose of playing the gaine of basket ball said supporting means and bank board being adapted to be folded up out of the road against the overhead support, said overhead support comprising a track, an elongated carriage suspended therefrom, said board being hung from one end of the carriage and being braced against horizontal movement from the other end of the carriage. said carriage being adjustable along the track, means for locking it in various positions on the track to vary the position of the bank board and basket lengthwise under the track and thereby change the length of the basket ball court.

13. A bank board and basketsupported for comprising an elongated overhead carriage, a vertically depending frame pivotally mounted at one end of the carriage and supporting the bank board and basket on the lower end thereof, said board being supported in an upright position thereon, a diagonally depending frame pivotally supported at the other end of t-he car- .riage and at its lower end attached to the vertically depending frame, said frames being adapted to be folded up out of the road against the overhead carriage.

la. A bank board and basket supported for the gaine of basketball comprising an elongated overhead carriage, a frame pivotally mounted at one end of the carriage andv depending there'froin and supporting the bank board and basket in an upright position thereon, ineansfor bracing said board from the carriage in an upright position, said 4frame and bracing means being adapted to be folded up out of the road against the over'- head carriage.

15. In a suspension of a bank board and a seY to said .rails and fixing supported thereby,-

' 16..;Inia suspensionfoia bank board anda basket:f0r.tlie,.game; .of basketball, the Cornbination ofna pair. otoverhead rails, a brace supported. thereby, connections .between theV brace'and therails, by which thebrace is adapted to swing downwardly from said rails to a diagonal position, a bank board supported fon a level :with the lower'endt or"y said bracezandbraced thereby,supports connected the' position ci' said said .connections .berails permitting. said various .pointsy along bank board.. and brace, tweenthe brace. and the brace to be Vfastened at the rails. Y

17.v In a suspension cfa bank board. and a basket :for the .game of basketball, the coinbination cfa pair of overhead rails, a brace supported thereby, connections between the brace and.the.';rails,rby which vthe brace is L adapted to swing downwardly from said rails to a diagonal position, Va bank board supportediona level with the lower end oi said auxiliary brace bars connecting` betweenv the bank board andthe .,rstnainedi brac'eiand adapted kto lock the bankbo'ard inan Aupright position.'V

18..;In a suspension of a bank board and a basket' forithe: gaine of basketball, the coinbination of a pair of overhead rails, a brace lconnections between the bracezand: theY rails, by which the brace is adaptedto swingdownwardlyfroni said rails to 'a diagona'lposition, a bank board supported on a level with'the lower end or" said ..fbrace',auXiliary bracel bars connecting betweenfthe` bank board and the iirst named brace, Vand adapted to lock the bank board in an 'upright position, supports connected tol said rails andr limiting the downward swing -o'f the brace.f A

' 19;*In a suspension of a bank board and a basket for the gainel of basketball, the cornbin ation of an overhead support, a brace supported thereby, connections between the brace .and the overhead support Vby which the brace is adapted to swing downwardly from said voverhead support'to av diagonal position, a

bank board` lower endv of connecting ybetween the bank boardfand the first named: brace andy adapted to lock the bankbo'ard and the lirst named brace in rela,n tion to each other.

20. ln asuspension ot a bank board and a basket, for the game of basketball, the conibination ofan overhead support, a brace sunsupported on 1a level with the Y ported thereby, connections between the brace and the overhead support by which the brace is adapted to swing downwardly trein said overhead support to a diagonal posi tion, a bank board supported on a level with the lower end of said brace, auxiliary brace bars connecting between Ithe bank. boardV and the diagonal braces and forming said brace, aukiliary'brace barsV braceand being braced a triangle therewith and ynamed brace and the auxiliarybrace bars bef,

ing attached above the middle line of the Y.

bank board on one side of the bank board and the basket being supported on the other side .f of the bank board below the middle line of the bank board. l

2l. In a suspension of a bank boardanda basket for the gaine of basketball, the cornbinati on of an overhead support, saidsupport coinprisinga pair of overhead rails extending from beyond one end ot the basketball court ytowards the other end, a brace supported by said'overhead support, said braceV having a connection with the overhead support by which the brace is adapted to swing downwardlyrorn said support to a diagonal. position, a bank board supportedv from said overhead support, on a level withv the lower end of said brace, ineans connecting the brace and bank board together so that the bank board. will be braced thereby.

22. ln a suspension of a bank board and basket for the gaineof basketball, the c0rnbination of an overhead support, said support comprising a pair of overhead rails en# tending from beyond one end of the basketball court towards the otherend, a brace having connections with said overheadsupport, by which the brace is adapted to swing downwardly from said support to a diagonal position, a bank board supported on a level'with the lower endv of said brace, means .connect-` ing the brace and bank board togethers@ that the bank board will be braced thereby, inea-ns by which the. upper end of said brace can be fastened at various points alongsaid overheadrails. n

23. ln af suspensionfof a bank board and basket for the gaine of basketball, the conibination of a pair of overhead rails entending from beyond one end ofthe basketball court toward the other end, a bank board and means by which it is supported trein lilei said rails and held in a vertical position, said board and its supporting means being fad-v justable along the rails lto vary the length oit the court and being toward the rails, to get it out of the the other side of said board, ineans by which thebrace is supported from the rails, said. brace being adapted to 'swing down to a diagonal position,thc bank board being supported on `a level with thereby.y In testimony whereof l atliX my signature. ALBERT L.' S'lElillllE.'V

adapted to be swung up f road, ar lbasket on'one side ofsaidboard, a brace on the lower'end of said 

